News Briefs

GRUBBRR, a provider of self-ordering technology, announced its collaboration with company investor, partner and celebrity chef Robert Irvine to launch "Restaurant Revamp," a giveaway campaign aimed at addressing solutions to rising labor and food costs in California and beyond. The move comes as California raised hourly wages for fast food employees to $20 per hour starting April 1,  and more restaurant owners and operators are looking to integrate technology as a forward-looking solution.

The campaign calls quick service restaurants (QSRs) with more than 60 locations nationwide – but at least one in California – to enter for a chance to win a restaurant revamp with a full suite of Samsung kitchen and restaurant technology, including kiosks, digital menu boards, kitchen displays, and GRUBBRR software at a corporate-owned restaurant location. The winner will also receive a leadership session by Irvine to discuss best practices for success with the new technology.

Self-Ordering Solution

Known for his Food Network show "Restaurant: Impossible," Irvine has built a career on working with restaurant owners and operators to increase revenue and streamline operations, while prioritizing customer and employee satisfaction. Through this campaign, Irvine will leverage the same strategies as digital transformation continues to expand into the food industry, creating a challenge for some.

"The restaurant industry is no stranger to a rapidly changing environment, and with the cost of labor and product going up, business owners are looking to be as resourceful as possible," said Robert Irvine. "I believe that the digital future of the restaurant industry should be embraced by owners, employees, and consumers alike, as not only will efficiency increase, but so will the adoption of new skills."

"We've seen more than a 70% uptick of interest in our technology from California-based restaurants since the new wage law was announced," said Sam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR. "Our technology has been crafted and fine-tuned for full operational efficacy, and our data shows that it helps increase ticket size and ultimately revenue. The implementation of the technology allows food service workers to be hands-on in other facets of the business and learn new technological skills in the process."

California is the first state to implement a minimum wage increase for fast food workers; the state can increase minimum wage up to 3.5% annually depending on inflation until 2029. Beyond California, many other cities and states are considering similar laws. In New York, people working in restaurants, nail salons and car washes have already seen an increase in minimum wage payments, while Washington, D.C. voted to eliminate tipped minimum wage, which will allow tipped employees to earn significantly more by 2027.

To learn more about the "Restaurant Revamp" campaign and how to enter for a chance to win, visit grubbrr.com.

Comcast Business announced that it is providing Seaport Stays – a collection of boutique hotels and long-term rental properties owned by BG Capital in North Wildwood, New Jersey – with several technology solutions, including Ethernet Dedicated Internet, plus Comcast Business Internet and X1 for Hospitality. These solutions, paired with managed WiFi services, support Seaport Stays’ efforts to create memorable, outstanding guest experiences and streamline internal operations. Seaport Stays aims to shift Wildwood’s seasonal tourism pattern to a year-round destination and believes that technology-enabled amenities in their properties will be critical to that success.

Nestled near the coastline of Wildwood, Seaport Stays provides comfortable, high-quality spaces and experiences for customers through three unique properties that offer a high level of luxury for visitors –Seaport Inn, Seaport Suites and Oasis by Seaport. The company’s owners, real estate investment and management firm BG Capital, chose Comcast Business to equip the Oasis by Seaport’s leasing office and pool area with Business Internet, along with the Seaport Inn and Seaport Suites properties with technology solutions that enable the high-quality experiences and comfort that guests need to feel at home.

“Technology is fundamental to crafting outstanding hospitality experiences, and Seaport Stays’ technology solutions from Comcast Business not only help us delight our guests but also significantly streamline our staff's operations, making their tasks more manageable and efficient. This dual benefit is crucial for ensuring our guests return to our properties,” said Lauren MacDonald, Director of Sales & Operations for Seaport Stays. “Our collaboration with Comcast Business has been a game-changer, offering us reliable Internet speeds and connectivity, plus exceptional support, which collectively help to enhance the entire scope of our hotel operations and guest services.”

At Seaport Inn and Seaport Suites, redundant solutions from Comcast Business enable fast, reliable connectivity in guest rooms and at the pool, restaurant, and bar areas, helping visitors to stay connected across the properties’ locations. X1 for Hospitality delivers video viewing experiences to guests, supported with the Voice Remote, while also helping staff streamline the management of their video devices, including TVs in guest rooms and bars. In addition, managed WiFi offers the hotel brand connectivity capabilities for onsite WiFi solutions and 24/7 support, helping to increase staff efficiencies, manage operating costs and reinforce guests’ positive views of hotel amenities.

“As a leading provider of business technology solutions, Comcast Business recognizes the critical role that hospitality organizations like Seaport Stays play in attracting tourists and energizing communities,” said Michael Louden, Regional Vice President of Comcast’s Freedom Region. “In an era where tech-enabled experiences are increasingly prioritized to support the new demands of guests, we are proud to support Seaport Stays with the technology backbone designed to meet and exceed their expectations.”

Hotelogix, a global cloud-based hospitality technology provider, and Sabre Corporation, a software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, announced the integration of Hotelogix Property Management System (Hotel PMS) with Sabre SynXis Central Reservation System (CRS), powered by their global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, to help hoteliers improve their distribution and reservation capabilities to increase revenue.

With two-way seamless connectivity, this collaboration between Hotelogix PMS and the SynXis CRS enhances hoteliers’ ability to centrally monitor and manage room rates, availability, and restrictions across all their distribution channels, including Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and booking engines.

Aditya Sanghi, CEO at Hotelogix, said, "Adding SynXis to our comprehensive list of integration is a testament to our commitment to work with best-in-class solutions to help hotels meet their evolving operational needs. By leveraging the strengths of both platforms, hotels can ensure real-time distribution, more sales, and enhanced revenue."

Hosted on a global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, SynXis CRS offers a user-friendly solution for managing rates, inventory, and bookings. Integrated with hundreds of third-party solutions, including PMSs, revenue management systems, customer relationship management tools, and channel managers, it powers 40% of the world’s leading hotel brands.

"Our collaboration with Hotelogix underscores Sabre Hospitality's dedication to empowering hoteliers across the globe by simplifying their operational complexities through streamlined distribution and enhanced reservation management capabilities,” said Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director of Community Sales for Sabre Hospitality. “We are excited to partner with Hotelogix and integrate its robust PMS with our global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, SynXis. Together, we're creating a collaboration that aims to enhance the ease of hotel management, contributing to improved efficiency and service quality in the hospitality industry."

Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, has unveiled its latest collaboration, joining forces with TH Resorts, a prominent hospitality chain in Italy. This collaboration marks an exciting milestone as it adds 30 modern 3 and 4-star properties to Hotelbeds' preferred portfolio, offering clients exclusive access to special rates and enhanced travel experiences.

The partnership with TH Resorts aligns with Hotelbeds' commitment to expanding its accommodation portfolio and providing clients with diverse and high-quality travel options. The addition of TH Resorts' properties offers clients the opportunity to explore popular summer destinations such as Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, Calabria, as well as renowned ski destinations in the Italian Alps. Additionally, properties in cities like Rome, Assisi, and Lazise (Garda Lake) provide clients with convenient access to cultural attractions and urban experiences.

“Partnering with TH Resorts aligns perfectly with our mission to provide clients with diverse and high-quality travel options.”, said Carlos Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer at HBX Group. "This strategic collaboration enables us to expand our preferred portfolio and offer our clients exclusive access to a diverse range of accommodations in highly sought-after destinations. Together, we look forward to enhancing the travel experiences of our clients and showcasing the best of Italy's hospitality offerings."

TH Resorts boasts an impressive collection of properties totalling 6048 rooms, making it the largest regional chain in Italy. With a focus on delivering exceptional hospitality experiences, TH Resorts has been recognised for its excellence by winning the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards for multiple establishments, including hotels, villages, and resorts, receiving outstanding reviews from travellers worldwide.

"We are excited to collaborate with Hotelbeds and offer their clients access to our properties in Italy", said Stefano Maria Simei, Sales and Marketing Director at TH Group. "This partnership allows us to expand our visibility and showcase the high-quality hospitality we offer at our properties in Italy to international guests. We look forward to welcoming travelers to our hotels and ensure they have an unforgettable stay."

eTip, the award-winning digital tipping and financial benefits platform for service businesses and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork, today announced it is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and can be deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and integrated with OPERA Cloud via the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP). Hotels and hospitality companies using Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud can now enhance employee satisfaction and streamline operations with eTip's cashless tip disbursement platform. Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a centralized repository of enterprise applications offered by Oracle and Oracle partners.

As the hospitality industry rapidly evolves to meet changing consumer expectations and new operational challenges, technology is emerging as a crucial ally. Forward-looking hoteliers are increasingly adopting Opera Cloud, an enterprise cloud that helps hoteliers do everything from orchestrating hotel operations to managing room inventory and rates to navigate this new landscape. Now, they can do so with the added benefit of eTip’s modern, enterprise-grade tipping solution.

The key benefits of the integration include:

• Eight Seconds to Tip: Guests experience a branded QR-code-based tipping process without the need for any application downloads.
• Charge-to-Room: Through the OPERA Cloud integration, guests can choose the "Charge to Room" option, consolidating all charges onto a single bill.
• Flexible Tip Disbursement: eTip Direct enables near-instant and automated tip disbursement, paid either to staff directly or via payroll.
• Robust Reporting, including:
  • Automated compliance and tax reporting.
  • Tips per occupied room.
  • Performance reporting by team, property, brand, and group.
  • Positive guest feedback.

By removing friction from the tipping process, eTip can increase staff earnings and increase hourly earnings, contributing to higher employee morale and a better guest experience. With a platform purpose-built for the large-scale, complex operations of hotel and hospitality companies, eTip saves management teams days of time spent in financial reconciliation while significantly reducing employee turnover costs.

Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a one-stop shop for Oracle customers seeking trusted business applications and services offering unique solutions, including ones that extend Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications.

OCI is a deep and broad platform of cloud infrastructure services that enables customers to build and run a wide range of applications in a scalable, secure, highly available, and high-performance environment. From application development and business analytics to data management, integration, security, AI, and infrastructure services including Kubernetes and VMware, OCI delivers comprehensive security, performance, and cost savings. In addition, with multi cloud, hybrid cloud, public cloud, and dedicated cloud options, OCI’s distributed cloud offers customers the benefits of cloud with greater control over data residency, locality, and authority, even across multiple clouds. As a result, customers can bring enterprise workloads to the cloud quickly and efficiently while meeting the strictest regulatory compliance requirements.

"The growing demand for technologies like both eTip and OPERA Cloud speaks to the need for hospitality companies to automate and simplify the manual, time-consuming aspects of hotel management," said Nicolas Cassis, Co-Founder and CEO of eTip. "eTip’s participation in Oracle Cloud Marketplace further extends our commitment to the Oracle community and enables customers to easily reap the benefits of the eTip platform. We look forward to leveraging the power of OCI to help us achieve our business goals.”